This set of articles illustrates how three companies (Just Born, Mike's CarWash, & Farmer's Insurance) in different industries are using learning and training and development to contribute to their business strategy. Choose one company and read the articles and visit and review its website.Be prepared to discuss the following questions:

1. Using the strategic training process shown in Figure 2.1 (Lecture 2 Power Point Presentation, Slide # 10) of Noe identify each component of the company's strategic training process.
2. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of each company's strategic training process.
3. Using a scale of 1(low) to 5 (high) rate the extent to which you believe that the company's learning/training process is strategic. Be prepared to justify your rating. Also, consider your recommendations for making learning/training more strategic.

JUST BORN: T. Bingham & P. Galagan, "Company success isn't made...it's just born."T+D(May 2006): 26-33. M. Sallie-Dosunmu, "Born to grow"T+D, (May 2006): 34-37. Also, go towww.justborn.com, the website for Just Born.

MIKE'S CARWASH: J. Salopek,"Learning-assisted service"T+D(October 2010): 41-42. Visit Mike's Carwash website atwww.mikescarwash.com. Review the site and read the article about Mike's Carwash fromModern Car Magazineon the "Career Opportunities" page.

FARMER'S INSURANCE: L. Freifeld, Farmers' Premiere Position",training(January/February 2011): 26-33; T. Bingham & P. Galagan, "Proud to tout their talent",T+D(February 2012): 33-37; A Thompson, "Delivering meaningful outcomes for your organization",T+D(February 2012): 38-42. Also, reviewwww.farmers.com, the website for Farmer's, for information regarding business strategy and training and development.

J. Walker. "Google's algorithms for talent", Wall Street Journal (July 5, 2012): B1,B3. (strategy, metrics, learning organization)